Posted: June 12, 2006

Athletics: Lace up Your Running Shoes! Fall Denver Marathon(TM) Kicks off Official Training Program

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2006--With less than five months left to prepare, the Denver Marathon(TM) is excited to kick off Team RUN 5280, presented by New Balance - Denver Marathon's official running and training team - a training program designed specifically to help runners get ready for the upcoming marathon, half marathon, or four-person marathon relay. The first race of its kind in Colorado, this world-class marathon is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006.

Team RUN 5280 will hold weekly training runs starting June 17 through Oct. 15 with distances varying each week to help prepare runners of all abilities - from the absolute beginner to the avid runner. Participants in the training program will run with veteran marathoners and receive personalized training schedules and coaching, expert nutritional and injury prevention advice and access to team physical and massage therapists. The cost of joining Team RUN 5280 is $225 and the team is limited to only 200 runners.

In addition, Team RUN 5280 runners will receive an official team uniform including a New Balance Technical T-shirt and performance shorts, a Denver Marathon performance cap and a carry sack. Runners will also receive day-use of Colorado Athletic Club facilities and valuable discounts on everything from entry fees to the Denver Marathon, to New Balance athletic shoes and merchandise at local running specialty stores.

The Denver Marathon will hold a kick-off event on Saturday, June 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Colorado Athletic Club in the Denver Tech Center at 5555 DTC Parkway to provide runners with more information on the training program and hold its first optional 30-minute training run at 10:00 a.m. The event will be a festive gathering with food and drinks, music from KBCO-FM and valuable giveaways including a one-year membership to the Colorado Athletic Club. Subsequent weekly training runs will be held Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. at locations throughout the metro Denver area and on the official Denver Marathon course with distances varying between one and 22 miles. Weekly strength and speed workouts will also be held on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. at the West Middle School track with distances varying between two and eight miles.

Maureen Roben, Head Coach of Team RUN 5280, has more than 20 years of experience running and coaching and holds the women's Colorado record for the half marathon with a time of 1:14:08 at altitude. A veteran marathoner, Roben represented the United States in the Goodwill Games where she finished fourth in the women's marathon. She also placed seventh in the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials and has conducted several running clinics for athletes across Colorado.

"Running with a team can provide motivation, support, professional coaching, and humor, among other benefits," said Roben. "Team RUN 5280 is designed to meet many needs of the runners who join as well as help anyone from a seasoned marathoner to a novice runner finish the Denver Marathon, half marathon, or marathon relay."

Registration is still open for the marathon, half-marathon, or four-person marathon relay. Registration fees for the marathon are: Standard (through Aug. 31), $85; Late Entry (after Sept. 1), $95; and Walk-Up at the EXPO (Oct. 13-14), $105. Half-Marathon registration fees are: Early Bird, $50; Standard (through Aug. 31), $65; Late Entry (after Sept. 1), $75; and Walk-Up at the EXPO (Oct. 13-14), $85. Marathon relay registration fees are: Early Bird, $125; Standard (through Aug. 31), $140; Late (after Sept. 1), $160; and Walk-Up at the EXPO (Oct. 13-14), $200.

For more information or to register for the Denver Marathon or Team Run 5280, go to www.denvermarathon.com or e-mail: RUN5280@denvermarathon.com

About the Denver Marathon(TM)
The Denver Marathon(TM) is owned and operated by Run Denver, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Experience Sports, LLC - a sports marketing and management company. Run Denver was created to develop an annual Denver marathon and half marathon that will bring a world-class running experience to the Denver community and economic and social vitality to the metro Denver area. The route, designed by Race Director Dave McGillivray, highlights the cultural diversity of Denver's communities by incorporating a mix of urban neighborhoods, shopping and restaurant districts, city parks and residential areas. The first race of its kind in Colorado, this world-class marathon is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006. For more information, please visit www.denvermarathon.com.

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